Few things in life goaded Francis more than lackadaisical knights and callous mercenaries. In better days, these brash, arrogant types were fewer and far between. Knighthood was shrouded in an aura of wonder. When the dispossessed and pitiable cast their hopeful gaze upon a knight, they saw a star, a living embodiment of faith in which they could place their trust. But now the ranks were poisoned, contaminated by the worse elements of mankind’s progeny.
Excerpt – Betrayal
When we last left off, the story has traveled back in time to when Pero de Alava and Francis Whitehall first met.
Francis is preparing to compete in a grand melee, a pretender’s game of war where men sometimes were badly injured and died. For people like Francis, who was poor, the games were his livelihood. He could not afford to lose.
Francis was older than most in the games and he missed the days when knights had some honor and lived by codes and oaths.
He’s not a fan of this younger generation who come from great wealth and do this for sport.
“After I enter the fray,” Francis instructed Merle, “meet me fifty yards south of first contact. Have my mace at the ready.”
Excerpt – Betrayal
As we also learned previously, Francis has a very small entourage, namely one squire – Merle Gilmore.
Screeching trumpets filled the air, calling the field to attention. An anxious line of mounted knights who had drawn lots assigning them to the first wave due north of Francis position began to yell and cheer. When their cheering ceased and the trumpeting finished, the jousters galloped fearlessly into the virgin field as similarly designated knights charged towards them from the west, their lances couched and extended out before them. The collision was a resounding second of glory and disaster.
Excerpt – Betrayal
And the grand melee has begun. Two teams of knights charging at one another and dueling. There are waves of knights that will charge into the field. The ones that went first will still be out there battling on their feet if they have been unhorsed. If a man is captured, he is taken to a station where he surrenders his horse, his armor, his weapons, and some of his wealth. For the rich, this is a game. For people like Francis, this is work. If he gets unhorsed and captured, it will cost him everything he has. His family will be destitute. He can’t afford to lose.
He faced Merle again. ‘Be ready, boy. I run with the third wave.”
Merle handed his lord the shield with the griffin embossed in bright orange paint before sprinting away.
Francis bowed his head to pray one last time.
Excerpt – Betrayal
The trumpets sound. Francis and the men around him begin yelling their war cries, itching to go. Francis screams a name, his nearest and dearest love. His daughter. Anne!
He tipped his lance forward and charged into the awaiting field. The whole world shook furiously as Molly’s hooves hammered the uneven ground. Francis fought the disoriented blur caused by the vibrations of horse flesh trembling beneath him, his eyes stretching out through the narrow slit in his helmet’s visor.
Excerpt – Betrayal
Francis’ eyes locked onto the feeblest opponent of the lot. He could tell even from a distance that this rider was no knight, and he was putting his life in danger being out here.
Francis knew there was no prize money or merit in being drawn to him, in defeating him. He couldn’t understand why he was still drawn to him.
Before Francis could shift his focus elsewhere, something nudged against his right leg. He looked aside to see that one of the tetchy young knights who had been complaining so grossly about the weather was pressing his horse against Molly, an impolite maneuver edging Francis out of the way so he could take advantage of the naive fool charging at them on a mule.
Excerpt – Betrayal
Francis had competed in many melees and had seen all kinds of worthless bullies who got pleasure and a sense of glory out of besting the weakest. He already didn’t like his young teammates, the whiners and complainers, the ones who mistreated their squires and pages.
Francis was outraged. A wave of empathy for the fool on the mule shot through him. He decided to protect the fool from his foolishness.
Francis tugged the reins and shoved Molly violently into his unpleasant colleague. He sent the surprised stooge and his equally shocked horse tumbling off course and directly into a party of knights already warring on foot. The accident was brutal for everyone involved.
Excerpt – Betrayal
Despite this unnatural shift, Francis still used the time left to him, to knock the fool off his mule, ramming him hard on the small circular shield he carried. The fool never came close to touching Francis
Merle pumped his fist, his lively voice bursting with excitement. “Great jolt, Sir! You nailed him!”
Francis slowly raised the visor on his helmet and sighed. He made no effort to hide his disappointment. He took the mace from Merle. “Follow!”
Excerpt – Betrayal
It was dangerous for squires on foot to maneuver through a melee, but Merle wasn’t a klutz out here. He kept one hand on Molly’s hindquarters and followed.
When they reached the fallen fool, he was still lying unconscious on the ground.
Merle yanked the victim’s helmet off. “Ah, look Sir, just a boy. He is nearly my age, I reckon. I bet his parents don’t know he is out here.”
Francis shook his head in disgust.
Excerpt – Betrayal
Francis knew there was nothing to be gained taking this youngster prisoner. He needed to get busy and win something of value.
“Come Merle, let this brave young man depart with an unexpected headache. He will have a grand tale for his offspring someday.” Francis slapped his visor down. “It is time I find a prize worthy of our time and efforts.”
Excerpt – Betrayal
I wanted to show some of Francis’ human side before we see his truly swashbuckling side, which will appear in the next installment.
Until then, stay inspired and keep reading!
Additionally, the second novella in the Shades of Myth series, Kiss of Death, will be released on 8/21/26.
You can PreOrder the Kindle ebook edition now!
Author Allen M Werner 
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